NSW public housing freeloaders targeted

UP to 3000 unauthorised tenants could be living in NSW public housing, the state government says.

Family and Community Services Minister Pru Goward said they were identified after the government announced an amnesty for people to declare or dob in public housing freeloaders.

Rent for public housing is paid on the basis of numbers of occupants in the home.

"Last month the NSW government announced the start of an amnesty for public housing tenants to tell us if they have additional people in their home so the correct amount of rent is being paid," Ms Goward said in a statement on Friday.

"We are giving tenants who have been doing the wrong thing the chance to do the right thing.

"This is only fair to ... the taxpayers who subsidise public housing."

Ms Goward said 1074 tenants had admitted to having additional occupants in their taxpayer subsidised homes.

More than 1387 additional occupants had been declared and more than 1756 suspected unauthorised occupants had been dobbed in and were being investigated.

If tenants do not own up and are caught out down the track they could be required to pay back rent or face eviction.

There is one month left in the amnesty.

Tenants or other members of the public can call the amnesty line on 1300 468 746 or submit their declarations online at www.housing.nsw.gov.au